Wallaby RWC squad named

[Parra]

The full squad is Horwill (c), Alexander, Ashley-Cooper, Barnes, Beale, Burgess, Cooper, Elsom, A and S Faingaa, Genia, Higginbotham, Horne, Ioane, Kepu, Ma'afu, McCabe, McCalman, Mitchell, Moore, O'Connor, Palu, Phipps, Pocock, Polota-Nau, Samo, Sharpe, Simmons, Slipper and Vickerman.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...nnouncement-20110818-1iyw8.html#ixzz1VKr5eSBF



Horwill captain
No Giteau

Hopefully those returning from injury will get back to full fitness - Mitchell, Barnes, Polta-Nau. All three will strengthen the current run-on team.
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[Parra]

I'd include Giteau over Phipps. Will Phipps see any decent game-time? Giteau can cover 9 as well as any other spot in the backs.

Lachie Turner is also unlucky.

 

[Butters]

Only one fulltime openside flanker in the entire squad? Please tell me that useless turd mccalman isn't the back up openside. :/

 

[Parra]

Must be. Also Samo & Higginbotham.

Maybe they will just fly home if Pocock is injured

 

[Butters]

So there's 5 blindside/no 8's and only 1 openside. For f**ks sake...

Oh well at least Elsom aint captain anymore and therefore isn't a guaranteed starter. Too much Horne and Ashley-Cooper for my liking..

 

[shiznit]

So there's 5 blindside/no 8's and only 1 openside. For f**ks sake...

Oh well at least Elsom aint captain anymore and therefore isn't a guaranteed starter. Too much Horne and Ashley-Cooper for my liking..

thats not all that surprising... you dont usually take a back up specialist openside in a squad of 30.

we more than likely wont be... hence why Adam Thompson is playing 7 this weekend against the Boks in McCaw's absence.

normally you take extra cover for your props, hookers & halfbacks.

 

[Thomas]

Also, they can replace a player in the squad if an injury occurs. Beau Robinson should keep his passport out.

Giteau unlucky not to be there. I guess Deans hates him. Horne? Not too sure about his selection but our backline is lacking a big ball runner and Horne fits that mould.

Horwill as captain! Excellent! Rocky can now focus on his game.

 

[Parra]

Well we have 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks

 

[Hooch]

Deans is a f**kwit.

You dont drop your captain on the eve of the world cup, you back him to play himself into form...

Dunno how Giteau doesn't even get into the squad...

This sheepshagging clown has had 4 years to settle on a team and all he ever does is fiddle, there is no nucleus to this side.

 

[shiznit]

Well we have 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks

yeah and thats the norm.

those are genuine specialist positions.

they could have had included an extra specialist 7 if they had a guy like Giteau who could cover that 3rd halfback spot as well as other backline positions.

 

[Parra]

yeah and thats the norm.

those are genuine specialist positions.

they could have had included an extra specialist 7 if they had a guy like Giteau who could cover that 3rd halfback spot as well as other backline positions.

I understand why. I thought Giteau + another 7 would be more flexible. I can't see any major complaints with this squad, just variations. Blokes like Turner, Hodgson & Robinson should be ready to fly at a moments notice.

 

[shiznit]

Deans is a f**kwit.

You dont drop your captain on the eve of the world cup, you back him to play himself into form...

Dunno how Giteau doesn't even get into the squad...

This sheepshagging clown has had 4 years to settle on a team and all he ever does is fiddle, there is no nucleus to this side.

that sheepshagging clown is the guy who had the foresight to bring through the likes of Genia, Cooper & Pocock.

to think that you guys potentially have 4 or 5 world class players and a half decent scrum which doesnt fall to bits under the smallest bit of pressure says a lot about what Deans has done for you guys.

he's a good coach... always has been... i wasnt keen on him being All Black coach because i didnt feel he had the necessary northern experience to coach our side... but considering the mess he took over originally... he's certainly done a decent job.

 

[shiznit]

I understand why. I thought Giteau + another 7 would be more flexible. I can't see any major complaints with this squad, just variations. Blokes like Turner, Hodgson & Robinson should be ready to fly at a moments notice.

yeah its not that easy... it certainly is a risk.... you have to have confidence that you have some non-specialist cover who can do a decent job.

because once an injured player has been replaced by a player outside the squad... they cant be used again.

so if Pocock goes down in an early match... Deans will have to decide whether to call in a replacement from australia and end Pococks tournament... or take a risk carrying Pocock and playing a non-specialist at 7 in the hope he comes good for the big games later on in the tournament.

Funnily enough... Deans has experience in this position... in 2003 he was the All Black backs coach when Tana Umaga went down early... he made the terrible decision to use fullback Leon McDonald at centre and bring Ben Atiga into the squad... thus ending Tana Umaga's world cup.

the result was Umaga being fit to play the semi but not allowed to join the squad... Mortlock destroying McDonald in the semi & Ben Atiga playing his lone All Black test with 20mins off the bench against Tonga.

hopefully for your guys sake... he's learnt his lessons...

 

[Thomas]

Deans is a f**kwit.

You dont drop your captain on the eve of the world cup, you back him to play himself into form...

Dunno how Giteau doesn't even get into the squad...

This sheepshagging clown has had 4 years to settle on a team and all he ever does is fiddle, there is no nucleus to this side.

Elsom hasn't been dropped. He's been relieved of his duties as captain. Who knows? Perhaps Deans and Elsom had a chat about it and thought it was the best thing for the team. Elsom really isn't captain material and I have no idea why he was made captain in the first place. Now he can concentrate on being a great flanker. Big Kev Horwill will be a great captain. He's up there with Eales when it comes to getting respect from his team.

This has made me happy.

 

[ozbash]

but considering the mess he took over originally... he's certainly done a decent job.

dead right.

 

[Thomas]

I think he's done a great job and I think this team will go down as a legendary team in a few years. I think they are too green to win the RWC this year but in 4 years? Who knows. The way he has blooded the young talent is similar to how Ewen Mackenzie has been running the Reds show for the last couple of years.

 

[Parra]

Anything less than making the final will be a complete failure.

 

[aussies1st]

He's starting to lose the plot of late. While I like the change in Horwill to captain why didn't he do it before the Tri Nations.

we more than likely wont be... hence why Adam Thompson is playing 7 this weekend against the Boks in McCaw's absence.

Thompson has at least played that role a few times, I found an article showing he did it back in 2008. We on the other hand have no one, Hodgson would have been a better bet than the four number 8s we have plus he can cover all backrow positions.

Other than Giteau for Phipps the squad is good.

 

[shiznit]

He's starting to lose the plot of late. While I like the change in Horwill to captain why didn't he do it before the Tri Nations.



Thompson has at least played that role a few times, I found an article showing he did it back in 2008. We on the other hand have no one, Hodgson would have been a better bet than the four number 8s we have plus he can cover all backrow positions.

Other than Giteau for Phipps the squad is good.

thompson is a backrow utility... he can play all 3 positions.

the Wallabies will have someone in mind for you blokes also...

 

[jc155776]

Samo!!!